Click photo to enlarge

Digging in to celebrate the Golden Crisp Premium Foods facility expansion.

Bill Otis (L), President of Patrick Cudahy, shakes hands with Iowa State Representative Dwayne Alons at the announcement of the Golden Crisp Premium Foods facility expansion on August 16, 2005.

Digging in to celebrate are (l-r): David Ehler, Aide to Congressman Steve King; Denny Walstra, Sioux Center Mayor; Dwayne Alons, Iowa State Representative; Dave Mulder, Iowa State Senator; and Bill Otis, Patrick Cudahy President and COO.

Patrick Cudahy, Inc. announced on August 16, 2005 plans for a $13.5 million expansion of its Golden Crisp Premium Foods facility in Sioux Center, Iowa. Golden Crisp produces fully-cooked microwave bacon, which is growing in popularity nationwide.

The new facility will add 140 new jobs when it is completed in January 2006. It is expected to double the facility's processing capabilities and will accommodate three new microwave bacon lines. The project also includes a new $1.25 million waste water treatment facility.

"This much-needed expansion of our Sioux Center plant will allow us to increase production of our microwave bacon line to keep up with growing customer demand for our product," said Bill Otis, President and Chief Operating Officer of Patrick Cudahy. "Fully-cooked bacon is one of the fastest-growing products in our industry."

This expansion is one of several announced recently by subsidiaries of Smithfield Foods. The move should be favorable to the Sioux Center economy as it is a significant increase to the 210 workers currently employed at the Golden Crisp plant.

"Smithfield Foods is very proud of Patrick Cudahy's aggressive efforts to expand its operations to meet customer needs, and to create new jobs for the Sioux Center area in the process," said C. Larry Pope, Smithfield's President and Chief Operating Officer. "We also salute the hard work and dedication of Golden Crisp's employees, who made this investment in the community possible."

Smithfield is dedicated to investing in the Iowa economy. The company currently has 3,884 employees in Iowa who last year had a payroll of $116 million. In just the last three years, the company has added 1,787 employees and $54 million to the Iowa payroll.

Attending the event were several members of the Iowa state government, including Sen. Stewart Iverson and Sen. Dave Mulder, Rep. Dwayne Alons, and Sioux City Mayor Denny Waltstra.

"We are pleased that Golden Crisp and Patrick Cudahy are making a significant investment in their Sioux Center operation because this project greatly benefits our community's economic well-being," said Walstra.

"Golden Crisp has been a good corporate citizen, and we look forward to the company's continued success."

Patrick Cudahy, Inc., established in 1888, is a broad-based supplier of high-quality, branded processed meats to the retail and foodservice markets. Its specialties include salami, pepperoni, other dry sausage products, ham and bacon. The company employs 2,290 people and distributes throughout the United States and the world. Patrick Cudahy is considered "Home of Sweet Apple Wood Smoke Flavor®." Headquartered in Cudahy, Wis., Patrick Cudahy has been a part of the Smithfield Foods family since 1984.